Re: Front license plate bracket

Congrats on our purchase. Yes, you have to drill holes. Depending on your year (which you did not state in your avatar) you might be able to get a tow hook/plate holder that is clean and easy to install. There has been much written about this topic.

There is a search panel in the upper right hand corner of this forum page. It reads "Google Custom Search". Type maybe license plate holder in there and see what comes up. The CTSV group has had many discussions.

Re: Front license plate bracket

They are usually on eBay. I threw mine out and made one from aluminum sheet metal so it's hidden by the license plate. I can mail a paper copy of the template to you so you can cut one out of aluminum using just sizzors. It mounted on the same bolt holes as the factory bracket using sheet metal screws. A friend who works in a Cadillac collision shop told me the airbag switches are on the radiator support.

Re: Front license plate bracket

I would definitely not go with the standard dealer-applied license plate (LP) bracket mount - which involves 4 holes being drilled into the front fascia and the bracket installed using 4 rivets. When the job is complete the LP bracket ruins the look of the front of the car, imo, because it sits too high and obscures part of the upper grille.
It's much better to attach the LP bracket further down (bracket oriented upside-down) over the lower grille using a couple of long nylon cable ties. As is250sp stated above, do not drill holes, you will regret it. Here's a photo of my '11 CTS with the LP bracket applied lower down where it belongs. If I ever choose to remove the bracket it's a 1 minute job and there will be no traces of it ever having been there.

Re: Front license plate bracket

I just bought a 2009 CTS from a state not having two plates (MI) but mine does (WA). I def don't want to drill and am curious about the lower grill option --I am planning to upgrade to the fine mesh grille though

Re: Front license plate bracket

Don't bother, run without a front plate break the law. the cops can't be bothered
stopping you for noncompliance. I live in Illinois I see a lot of cars running with no
front plate. If my CTS didn't come with one I wouldn't put one.
thanks, Douglas

Re: Front license plate bracket

No way would I put a front plate on. If you are swapping out a grill, if you get stopped by the cops, I would tell them you had a front end accident. When they fixed it the body shop never found your front plate.